A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 148

148. The Blue Wolf

He is the Ice Emperor.

The guardian of the Northern Sea and the apex of countless tribes.

Even in his old age, his authority has not waned, and the fate of countless people wavers at his every word.

Many have challenged him. He has weathered bloody battlefields filled with swords, schemes, and malice, and the blood on his hands is considerable. The lives of people, no matter how many, were worth less to him than a cup of sheep’s milk.

Only one person was an exception.

Her death was a heavy burden, and the regret was profound. The excuse that it was unavoidable was not even a justification, and even the brutal revenge fueled by anger did not lighten the weight.

The fact that he had ignored the opportunity to save her haunted him for the rest of his life.

He is the Ice Emperor.

He is not afraid of divine punishment for the sin of taking thousands of lives.

However, retribution for the death of just one person was a debt he felt he could never repay, even with his own life.

∴

Woo-oong.

A torch flickers in the darkness, and a curved blade hums softly.

The beautiful Sa Su-yeon’s eyes were staring straight into the Ice Emperor’s intense and deep eyes.

“Did you say retribution?”

Retribution refers to the natural consequence of an action, often divine punishment for a sin. And the Ice Emperor spoke the word ‘retribution’ clearly in the Southern language [the common language of the continent, distinct from the Northern tribes’ dialects].

“That’s right.”

The Ice Emperor’s expression, marked by a large scar, seemed calm.

“I am not worthy to receive it.”

Sa Su-yeon said in a quiet tone.

“I am…….”

“I am the one who caused the death of the late Ice Empress,” the Ice Emperor’s voice cut off Sa Su-yeon’s words. Sa Su-yeon’s face hardened.

“I could have stopped it, but I let her die to protect the throne of the Northern Sea.”

The Ice Emperor’s gaze towards Sa Su-yeon was sharp.

“So, I am the one who killed her. No, I killed her.”

Woo-oong.

The curved blade in the Ice Emperor’s hand hums. The low sound painfully digs into people’s ears. The Four Direction Generals, gritting their teeth, as well as everyone else, could not open their mouths.

“I am also the one who made her daughter, Ga-ryeo, the seventh palace lord.”

The Ice Emperor said. His long, white beard, flowing down to his waist, trembled.

“I didn’t tell her anything, and I didn’t give her any power. I was the one who made her leave the Northern Sea without even one of her mother’s belongings, all to protect this throne.”

Surprise appeared on the faces of some of the palace lords.

However, the Four Direction Generals and the imperial concubines remained silent.

Sa-reuneu closed her eyes tightly, put her hands together, and trembled slightly.

“I killed your grandmother and cast out your mother. Can you still say that you are not worthy? Sa Su-yeon, granddaughter of the late Ice Empress and daughter of Ga-ryeo.”

Sa Su-yeon did not answer.

Instead, she quietly drew her sword, Myeong.

Sreung.

The blade of Myeong flashed under the torchlight. Sa Su-yeon walked towards the Ice Emperor.

Step, step.

The Ice Emperor smiled at the sight of Sa Su-yeon approaching him, and he raised the curved blade.

‘Her’ sword was approaching to deliver the retribution he deserved at this moment. The moment he had been waiting for was now before his eyes.

“You are worthy.”

Whoo-oong.

A red aura began to form on the Ice Emperor’s curved blade. As if to burn the last moment, the red aura was rising fiercely.

Step, step.

Sa Su-yeon did not stop walking. The Ice Emperor, holding the curved blade with the red aura swirling around it, said.

“Kill me. And the Northern Sea…….”

Step.

The moment it seemed that the two people’s swords would touch each other, Sa Su-yeon’s figure disappeared.

Pa-ang.

In the instant that the Ice Emperor flinched, Sa Su-yeon appeared right in front of the Ice Emperor, and her sword, Myeong, was dyed with pure white light.

“Gasp!”

Those who were watching gasped all at once. At that moment, a pure white trajectory crossed the air.

Ching.

A sound like a small bell ringing echoed.

Clang, clang!

Before anyone could even realize what had happened, the light of Myeong disappeared. But one thing was clear.

The Ice Emperor’s curved blade was severed from the beginning of the blade and was rolling on the floor.

All that remained in the Ice Emperor’s hand was the handle. The blade, imbued with internal energy, was cut off without him even feeling it, and yet, there was not even an impact.

That fact meant only one thing: Sa Su-yeon’s level had already reached a point that the Ice Emperor could not even imagine.

“As expected.”

Seo-rin said quietly, shrugging her shoulders.

“Scary sister…….”

Even Old General No had nothing to say. Sa Su-yeon’s level of wielding the Mystical Ice Art was so astonishing that even Old General No was speechless.

He thought that synchronizing with the Eternal Ice Essence [a source of immense power unique to the Northern Sea] would definitely have an effect, but that level was beyond even Old General No’s expectations.

However, only Dang Wol-ah had a calm look, as if she already knew.

Step.

Sa Su-yeon took another step forward. She put away the sword she was holding, Myeong, and quietly opened her arms towards the Ice Emperor.

Sarak.

Sa Su-yeon’s arms embraced the Ice Emperor.

“You don’t have to blame yourself so much.”

Her voice was soft and warm. The Ice Emperor’s eyes wavered.

“I heard everything from Yi-bi. That my grandmother’s death was all a tribal scheme to make Yi-bi the Ice Empress.”

In the early days of the Ice Emperor’s reign, Yi-bi’s tribe, a powerful force, wanted to make Yi-bi the Ice Empress, but the Ice Emperor did not accept. And one day, the Ice Empress died, with a dubious cause of death that no one could understand.

There was no evidence or witnesses, but the mastermind was clear.

But there was nothing the Ice Emperor could do. All that was left was to accept Yi-bi as the Ice Empress, as they wished.

If another force had not sided with the Ice Emperor, it would have certainly happened.

“The day I met her, she cried and begged me for forgiveness.”

That was why Yi-bi had been growing old alone her whole life, because the Ice Emperor never forgave her.

After endless years of the Ice Emperor’s anger, only the name of Yi-bi’s tribe remained.

“Yi-bi…….”

The Ice Emperor closed his eyes. Sa Su-yeon already knew everything.

“And have you forgotten? That I am my mother’s daughter.”

Sa Su-yeon sighed lightly.

“My mother said that my grandfather was the warmest and kindest person in the world, that he loved my mother more than anyone else in this world.”

The Ice Emperor’s large shoulders trembled slightly.

“I still remember how happy my mother smiled when she said those words. So please, don’t be sad or blame yourself anymore.”

She said quietly, embracing the Ice Emperor, her mother’s warm and soft voice vivid in her memory.

“Grandfather.”

The Ice Emperor gritted his teeth, but he could not hide the hot tears that were already flowing. That was the retribution that had come to him, who had lived his whole life in regret.

Sreuk.

The Ice Emperor’s arm holding the hilt fell weakly. The curved blade that ‘her’ sword had cut off, the blade of self-reproach, had no meaning or weight anymore.

The eyes of some of the imperial concubines turned red, and the Four Direction Generals also gritted their teeth and held back tears.

In that desolate place, like an abandoned banquet hall, Sa-reuneu’s suppressed sobs flowed faintly.

Regret, self-reproach, and trials were all over.

*

*

*

Thud.

The Ice Emperor sat down in his chair. His white beard, flowing to the floor, was scattered to one side. He closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time before slowly opening them.

“Are you leaving?”

The Ice Emperor’s heavy voice flowed out, but it was in a lighter and clearer tone than before.

“Yes.”

Sa Su-yeon’s answer was also clear. She turned her head and looked at Son Bin. His smile was as warm as ever.

“Because that man defeated me.”

Various thoughts flashed through the eyes of the imperial concubines and palace lords.

When had Sa Su-yeon ever been defeated? And who was that scholar? It was a story they had never heard.

“Hmm.”

The Ice Emperor clenched and unclenched his fist a few times and pondered.

“But the Northern Sea will not accept your decision.”

“It’s heartbreaking, but if it’s something I have to endure, there’s nothing I can do.”

Sa Su-yeon’s words that it was heartbreaking were sincere.

The Northern Sea is no longer a meaningless place.

It is the land where the people who gave her warm affection live. That is the Northern Sea.

“Hoo.”

The Ice Emperor let out a light sigh.

“Originally, I was going to entrust everything to you…….”

He turned his head.

“Ice Empress, raise your head.”

The Ice Empress’s eyes sparkled, but soon, a sneer settled on her lips.

“Am I…… still the Ice Empress?”

It was a mockery, but the Ice Emperor’s expression remained calm.

“There is no other Ice Empress besides you, just as I swore before.”

The Ice Empress’s eyes trembled. Another force that took the risk of extinction and sided with the Ice Emperor was the Ice Empress’s tribe.

She, who was the fifth concubine, became the Ice Empress, and her tribe was able to rise as the largest force in the Northern Sea.

At that time, the Ice Emperor promised that there would be no other Ice Empress besides her.

“Lies!”

The Ice Empress shouted. She said as if screaming.

“I have never been the Ice Empress to you, not even once. No, you didn’t even try to look at me. You were always looking somewhere else! Everyone is just a substitute for her! Such a me is the Ice Empress? It’s a lie, an absolutely unbelievable lie!”

The Ice Empress, who shouted as if pouring out her heart, gasped for breath.

“It was a lie. Everyone, everyone is a lie…….”

The Ice Empress lowered her head. She said in a pathetic voice.

“I waited my whole life, but now I realize that it was a futile hope. My life was a failure. Hehehe.”

She laughed. She raised her head and looked straight at the Ice Emperor.

“Now, kill me.”

The Ice Empress’s gaze was cold. The Ice Emperor, who was looking at her, said quietly.

“All the men who led the rebellion will be beheaded, and those involved will be punished according to the severity of their crimes.”

The Ice Emperor’s voice was as cold as frost.

“The imperial concubines and palace lords who sided with the Ice Empress will have their positions abolished and returned to their tribes. Since they wanted to shed the blood of their brothers, they will never again claim the bloodline of the Ice Palace.”

As if reading a prepared sentence, the Ice Emperor’s words were seamless.

“Also, the five tribes that sent troops will never again be granted the title of warrior.”

Quiet sighs flowed out from here and there.

“What? What’s wrong?”

Old General No quietly asked Na-mi-ra. Na-mi-ra, who was also sighing, frowned slightly and quickly explained in a small voice.

“If they are not granted the title of warrior, the tribe can no longer exist. No one respects or recognizes them anymore. Even basic trade is not easy.”

Old General No frowned.

“They’re quite a large tribe, right? Then does that mean they’re all being punished?”

“Not really.”

Na-mi-ra said.

“In that situation, everyone except for a small number of direct descendants will split up. They will offer gifts to the Ice Emperor and be granted permission to exist as a new tribe.”

Old General No understood what she meant.

The tribes that participated in the rebellion are torn apart. Each of them offers gifts of apology to the Ice Emperor and receives permission for independence, which contains the meaning of amnesty.

“Many new small and medium-sized tribes will be created.”

Independence on a fairly large scale will not be allowed at all, because the Ice Emperor’s intention is to break them into pieces. He will receive that many gifts.

“Hmm, that’s what it meant.”

In reality, the punishment is borne by a small number of direct descendants. It also has the effect of recovering all their assets.

“The Ice Empress.”

The Ice Emperor paused for a moment. The Ice Empress’s sneer towards the Ice Emperor was still there.

“Will be confined to a separate palace. She will not be able to leave that place unless she dies.”

People’s eyes widened. Even the Ice Empress’s eyes, who had been prepared for death, were tinged with a different color.

“Why…….”

Before her words could continue, the Ice Emperor said.

“Because I swore then that there is no Ice Empress besides you.”

The Ice Emperor waved his hand lightly. Altan and Nergu immediately grabbed the Ice Empress’s arms.

Step, step.

Even as she was being dragged away by the two generals, the Ice Empress’s eyes were fixed on the Ice Emperor. The Ice Emperor also did not take his eyes off her.

Squeak, thud.

The door closed, and the Ice Emperor closed his eyes. Perhaps he was reminiscing about the memories of that time, which would never return.

After a while, the two generals returned to the Ice Emperor’s side. The Ice Emperor slowly opened his eyes.

“You.”

People turned their eyes to where the Ice Emperor was looking. Old General No, who met their gazes, frowned.

“Why are you looking at me?”

Sabeok.

The scholar next to Old General No quietly stepped forward. He was a young man who looked like he would stagger even if the wind blew.

As he stepped forward, having been forgotten until now, questions flashed through the eyes of the imperial concubines and palace lords.

The scholar with the white face walked out quietly and stood before the Ice Emperor. His movements were so soft and weak that it seemed as if he was floating in the air.

Originally, this was a place that revered the strong, so the gazes of the imperial concubines and palace lords towards the scholar were not very favorable.

“I heard that you single-handedly defeated three thousand troops.”

Horror was painted on the eyes of the imperial concubines and palace lords.

“What?”

“Could it be…….”

“No, but that’s just a rumor…….”

In an instant, the surprise was so great that they forgot they were in front of the Ice Emperor. If it hadn’t been said by the Ice Emperor, they would never have believed it.

Gun-tumur of the Southern Direction General, one of the Four Direction Generals, conveys the Ice Emperor’s words to Son Bin in fluent Southern language. The Ice Emperor said.

“Some say they saw a celestial being at the end of your sword. Some of the maids say they saw the souls of gods rippling in the sky.”

Old General No moved closer to Na-mi-ra.

“What are the souls of gods?”

Na-mi-ra glared at Old General No once, but soon, she said in a low voice.

“The souls of gods, well…… it refers to the aura of light rippling like silk in the night sky. Usually, you have to go much further north to see it [the aurora borealis].”

Old General No nodded. It seemed to refer to a rare astronomical phenomenon observed in the north. In any place, changes in astronomy are interpreted as having great significance.

“But the Four Direction Generals said this, that your figure, engulfed in blue flames…….”

The Ice Emperor looked straight at Son Bin.

“Was like a blue wolf.”

Silence fell. Even the imperial concubines and palace lords, who had been surprised, did not open their mouths anymore.

No one in the Northern Sea would dare to speak carelessly in front of the words ‘blue wolf’.

“Can you do that again?”

The Ice Emperor asked. People’s gazes all turned to the scholar.

“Well.”

Son Bin smiled.

“I hope I don’t have to do it anymore.”

It was a gentle smile, but those who saw it did not think so.

The words ‘I hope I don’t have to’ sounded like ‘I can do it anytime if things go wrong’.

For example, if they were dissatisfied with the handling of the rebellion or the treatment of Palace Lord Sa Su-yeon.

The fact that the young scholar looked so weak that he couldn’t even hold a sword, no, a brush properly, had already disappeared from everyone’s minds. Now, even that gentle smile looked eerie.

“Is that so?”

The Ice Emperor also smiled lightly. The large scar that crossed his face moved slightly.

“That’s a shame. I wanted to see it for myself.”

The Ice Emperor, who had been thinking quietly, raised his gaze again.

“I want to entrust you with a name. Will you accept it?”

For Son Bin, it was a sudden story, but after seeing the Ice Emperor’s eyes, Son Bin had no choice but to nod. It was a gaze as deep as the Ice Emperor’s age and as clear as the sky of the Northern Sea.

“I will gladly do so.”

Sreuk.

The Ice Emperor rose from his seat, and the Ice Emperor, who took a step forward, knelt down on one knee.

Thud.

“Ice Emperor!”

“I, Ice Emperor!”

Screams erupted from the mouths of the imperial concubines and palace lords.

But the Ice Emperor did not waver. He lowered his head and said.

“To the wise blue wolf who came from the boundary between heaven and earth, the Ice Emperor pays his respects.”

A being who still lives in the legends of the Northern Sea, one who cannot be compared to anyone, and one who cannot be defeated by anyone.

The only being who can give teachings to the Ice Emperor, and therefore the only name that can receive the Ice Emperor’s respect.

That is the wise blue wolf who came from the boundary between heaven and earth.

There is no one who does not kneel before that name. There is no one who raises their head before that name.

The incarnation of a celestial being and the legend of the Northern Sea itself.

That is the weight of the name that the blue wolf of the Northern Sea has.

Thud, thud.

The knees of the Four Direction Generals also touched the floor. They lowered their heads and said.

“The Four Direction Generals pay their respects to the blue wolf.”

Since the Ice Emperor and the Four Direction Generals knelt, there was no need to mention the imperial concubines and palace lords. They knelt down hastily, lest they be left behind.

“We, we pay our respects to the blue wolf!”

“We pay our respects!”

Son Bin had a flustered expression at the sudden situation. He looked at Palace Lord Sa Su-yeon.

It was a look of help, asking her to do something, but Sa Su-yeon smiled.

Sarak.

Sa Su-yeon knelt down, and she looked at Son Bin with sparkling eyes and said, like a playful child.

“This girl pays her respects to the blue wolf of the Northern Sea.”

“S, Miss Sa…….”

Son Bin, whose slightest expectation was betrayed, looked at Sa Su-yeon with a tearful expression. Looking at that bewildered gaze, Sa Su-yeon said with a smiling face.

“Thank you. Really, really I…….”

Sa Su-yeon could not continue speaking and lowered her head, because if she looked at him any longer, she would not be able to hide the rising tears.

Her soft hair flowed down her slender neck and shoulders.

“Sniff.”

Looking at that scene, Old General No sniffed. Seo-rin glanced at Old General No and said.

“Are you crying?”

“When did I cry!”

Old General No complained in a low voice, lest he break the atmosphere, but his voice was already trembling slightly. Small dewdrops were also forming in Dang Wol-ah’s eyes, hidden behind her veil.